UK - The government will not be lifting the coronavirus lockdown imminently - meaning it will stretch beyond the initial three week period, it has been confirmed. This evening Dominic Raab - who is deputising for Boris Johnson while the PM is in intensive care - said the worst thing the country could do would be to “take its foot off the pedal”. He said it is too early to consider lifting the restrictions - which state Brits can only leave their homes for essential trips and exercise. When the lockdown was announced on March 23, Mr Johnson said the unprecedented measure would be reviewed after three weeks - meaning it could have been lifted at the start of next week. But the UK is not in a position where it is safe to change the rules, Mr Raab said. Nevertheless the government’s chief scientific officer, Sir Patrick Vallance, said there were encouraging signs that the lockdown was working.